This blog looks at the insurance industry's knowledge of the harmful health effects of exposure to asbestos and other related topics.

Johnson & Higgins

October 26, 2010

In the summer of 1937 the official publication of The Insurance Brokers' Association of New York published an article entitled "What of the Dust Danger Now?" by Mr. W. G. Hazard of the Owens-Illinois Glass Company.

The article first identifies the nine costs of a dust control program.

"Those costs are interesting because they are exactly what large corporations experienced in the five year period just past:1. Dust survey and dust counts.2. Change in processes.3. Change in building structure.4. Housekeeping facilities.5. Dust collecting systems.6. Respirators.7. Education of workers.8. Inspection and enforcement.9. Medical Service."

Hazard states that during the last few years, "Gradually the work of engineers and lawyers was combined with that of equipment manufacturers in definite managerial efforts to reduce exposure and prevent injuries. It is safe to say that every large corporation facing the silicosis problem has investigated the developments in equipment or structural design offered to eliminate all pulmonary diseases."

Hazard further states that:

"One of the most fruitful sources of information for the small company is its insurance carrier. General insurance companies have an engineering and medical service that is outstanding."

Two of the directors for the Insurance Brokers' Association of New York in 1937 were Laurence S. Kennedy of Marsh & McLennan, and L. A. Wallace of Johnson & Higgins.

In addition, Kennedy and Wallace served on the Association's Legislative Committee. Joseph Geoghegan of Marsh & McLennan served with Wallace on the Casualty and Surety Committee.

Owens-Illinois manufactured asbestos insulation products during the 1940s and 1950s.

October 01, 2010

In the summer of 1935 the official publication of The Insurance Brokers' Association of New York published an article by Henry Sayer entitled "Occupational Diseases." Here is an excerpt:

"One aspect of the occupational disease problem relates to the so-called dust diseases. There have been described by medical men in recent years conditions known as silicosis, asbestosis, pneumoconiosis and siderosis, all being dust diseases due to the inhalation of inorganic dust. Dust is an accompaniment of most industries, certainly a very large proportion of them. We find it not only in the stone-cutting and rock drilling industries, we find it in the factories, in the foundries, grinding processes and the silicosis rate is very high in some of these places. No one knows how high, but it had been estimated in terms of a high percentage of the employees. It is a disease that does not make itself known early, perhaps until after five or more years of occupational exposure."

Two of the directors for the Insurance Brokers' Association of New York at that time were Laurence S. Kennedy of Marsh & McLennan, and L. A. Wallace of Johnson & Higgins.